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Participated in the 4 Series Un4gettable Test Drive today. I was anxious to drive the 428 coupe (the model I drove was a Sport Line) as its the same engine / transmission in my sDrive 2.8. I'm here to tell you that it feels like a completely different engine and transmission. The acceleration was much more lively than the X1 and the transmission shifts were crisp and satisfying. I can see why the car magazines are getting low 5s in 0-60 testing. Also, the entire test drive in the 428 I was in Sport mode and the throttle response / steering weight were fantastic. One other observation is that the sound of the exhaust in the 428 is marvelous (unlike with the X1).

Is there any sort of "reprogramming" that can be done to make the X1's N20 / transmission behave like that in the 428?

I would suspect that there is some differences in the transmission and engine programming. I would also guess that if you got a BMS stage 1 tune and run in sport mode, the gap would narrow significantly.

Participated in the 4 Series Un4gettable Test Drive today. I was anxious to drive the 428 coupe (the model I drove was a Sport Line) as its the same engine / transmission in my sDrive 2.8. I'm here to tell you that it feels like a completely different engine and transmission. The acceleration was much more lively than the X1 and the transmission shifts were crisp and satisfying. I can see why the car magazines are getting low 5s in 0-60 testing. Also, the entire test drive in the 428 I was in Sport mode and the throttle response / steering weight were fantastic. One other observation is that the sound of the exhaust in the 428 is marvelous (unlike with the X1).

Is there any sort of "reprogramming" that can be done to make the X1's N20 / transmission behave like that in the 428?

Ditto here. I had the 428 Xdrive as a loaner for few days and I can confirm the above. The X1 feels like a slow loud pig compared to the 428.

Participated in the 4 Series Un4gettable Test Drive today. I was anxious to drive the 428 coupe (the model I drove was a Sport Line) as its the same engine / transmission in my sDrive 2.8. I'm here to tell you that it feels like a completely different engine and transmission. The acceleration was much more lively than the X1 and the transmission shifts were crisp and satisfying. I can see why the car magazines are getting low 5s in 0-60 testing. Also, the entire test drive in the 428 I was in Sport mode and the throttle response / steering weight were fantastic. One other observation is that the sound of the exhaust in the 428 is marvelous (unlike with the X1).

Is there any sort of "reprogramming" that can be done to make the X1's N20 / transmission behave like that in the 428?

Please try manual mode. Pull the engine to around 5500rpm (Redzone is 7000rpm) before shift up.

OP, do you have shift paddles in your X1? I think the cars without have a different transmission tune. In the F30 they charge significantly more for the "sport" transmission with paddles compared to the minimal upcharge in the X1. I drove the F30 w/o paddles and the shifts didn't seem as quick as my paddle equipped X1. The shift lever itself is a whole lot nicer in my car too; wonder if you get the nicer lever with the the "sport" transmission option in the F30?

Test drove 228i as well as 428i vert. 228i felt slightly fast than my x1 and the 428i vert probably due to 17s, lower weight, and better aero. 428i vert felt like a dog. M235i is insane and the m2 will be insane also if they go with s55.